Using Notepad++ with MiKTeX on Windows

Question

I'm using MiKTeX 2.9 on Windows. So far I've been using LeD to compile my PDFs (using pdflatex). I want to start using Notepad++ to compile my LaTeX PDFs as I've lately become very fond of this editor.

Would anyone be able to point me to a way to configure Notepad++ with shortcuts to compile bibtex and pdflatex?

Answer 1

I managed to find the perfect solution! For some reason, this didn't show up on my previous Google searches. I tailored my version of this solution: http://nimal.info/blog/2010/latex-on-windows-with-miktex-and-notepad/

My version (on a 64-bit Windows 7 machine) is as follows:

1. Download and install Basic MiKTeX 2.9 (32-bit)
2. Download and install SumatraPDF
3. Create a batch file miktex_to_latex.bat and place it anywhere
   • For easy location, place the batch file in the [Notepad++ installation Path]

4. Copy-paste the following into the batch file and save it

   :: Called from Notepad++ Run  
   :: [path_to_bat_file] "$(CURRENT_DIRECTORY)" "$(NAME_PART)"  
   
   :: Change Drive and  to File Directory  
   %~d1  
   cd %1
   
   :: Run Cleanup  
   call:cleanup  
   
   :: Run pdflatex -> bibtex -> pdflatex -> pdflatex  
   pdflatex %2  
   bibtex  %2  
   :: If you are using multibib the following will run bibtex on all aux files  
   :: FOR /R . %%G IN (*.aux) DO bibtex %%G  
   pdflatex %2  
   pdflatex %2  
   
   :: Run Cleanup  
   call:cleanup  
   
   :: Open PDF  
   START "" "C:\Progra~2\SumatraPDF\SumatraPDF.exe" %3 -reuse-instance  
   
   :: Cleanup Function  
   :cleanup  
   del *.dvi
   del *.out
   :: del *.log 
   :: del *.aux  
   :: del *.bbl    
   :: del *.blg  
   :: del *.brf  
   
   goto:eof  
   

5. Take care of the following:

   • All lines beginning with double colon :: are comments
   • the START command should have the installation path of SumatraPDF
   • Make sure there are NO spaces in the path (Use Progra~2, not Program Files (X86))
   • The -reuse-instance allows us to edit and recompile without quitting the PDF

6. Download (if it does not already exist) the NppExec plugin and place the .dll file in [Notepad++ installation path]\plugins

7. Open a .tex file in Notepad++, click on F6 to execute

8. Type the following lines in the window that pops up:

   NPP_SAVE
   "<Path_to_bat_file>" "$(CURRENT_DIRECTORY)" "$(NAME_PART)" "$(NAME_PART).pdf"
   

   In my case, this is:

   NPP_SAVE
   "C:\Progra~2\Notepad++\miktex_to_latex.bat" "$(CURRENT_DIRECTORY)" "$(NAME_PART)" "$(NAME_PART).pdf"
   

   The above lines basically tell NppExec to "save the current .tex file, run the batch file, store results in current directory and name it the same as the .tex file"

9. Click on "Save" and type in a recognizable name such as 'PDFLaTex'

10. Go to the menubar, Plugins -> NppExec -> Advanced Options.. Under 'Menu item', choose the script we just created above, and 'Add/Modify' it to the Menu items with a suitable name. This allows us to assign shortcut keys through Settings -> Shortcut Mapper -> Plugin commands

11. Navigate to the script name and choose any shortcut key like Shift+F7

12. Press the shortcut key Shift+F7 to save and compile the .tex file. The SumatraPDF window should pop up and show the compiled PDF. Changes can be made and the file recompiled without having to close the PDF.

The BEST parts about this method are:

• There is no need to keep pressing Ctrl+S to save and then compile to PDF. Everything is done in one key press!
• There is no need to keep closing the opened PDF and reopening it on recompiling (as in the case with Adobe Reader)
• It is very easy to cleanup all the junk files generated
• It is completely open-source and can be easily integrated with an existing Notepad++ installation

Thanks Nimal, Jonas, Bert and the others who contributed to this awesome solution!